Former Ferrari president says Ecclestone Monza threats not new

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says Ecclestone Monza threats not new

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has weighed into the uncertainty surrounding Monza’s future on the F1 calendar.

The issue will be front and centre this weekend, as Bernie Ecclestone pushes defiantly for more money from Italian grand prix chiefs, who are backed in their mission by the prime minister Matteo Renzi.

2015 will be the first Italian grand prix in decades not attended by Montezemolo as a Ferrari luminary, but he says that uncertainty about Monza’s future is definitely not new.

“The threats to the grand prix at Monza are like Panettone (Milanese sweet bread) at Christmas — it’s tradition,” he is quoted by Italy’s La Repubblica.

“Whenever it is up for renewal, Bernie says it will go. But it’s not true,” Montezemolo insisted.

“Of course, everyone has to do his part, as nice things cost money and you can’t think about not paying for them. But, with all due respect to Baku, I think not racing is Germany was already depressing enough,” he added. (GMM)